W.S. Harlan School will soon be getting a much-needed new school bus after the Covington County Board of Education accepted a bid on Tuesday.

The CCBOE accepted a bid from Blue Bird school buses for an $85,975 special needs school bus.

“We sent out bids to four different companies,” Covington County Schools Transportation Supervisor Ricky Messick said. “Two we did not hear back from, one we got a no bid and we got the one bid from Blue Bird. And it was a very good price.”

Covington County Schools Superintendent Shannon Driver said he believed it was $8,000 or $10,000 less than the last special needs bus that was purchased.

Messick said the system has had success Blue Bird buses, and the bus would have the same floor plan as the two currently being used, plus air conditioning.

Messick also said the delivery dates may be within 40 days, but wasn’t sure on the exact time frame.

In a November board meeting, Driver said the current bus was old and the engine would not last long. He also said that the spare bus was already being used.

Money had been set aside for purchases such as these, Driver said in the previous meeting.

In other business, the board:

• recognized Pleasant Home School (PHS) Principal Craig Nichols upon being selected as the 2014 Kiwanis Club Citizen of the Year. Nichols said the award was all about the hard work of the employees of the school system;

• accepted the resignation of Kathy Schofield, secondary math teacher at PHS, effective Dec. 17, 2014:

• approved the employment of Jessica Bush as elementary teacher at PHS

effective immediately, pending verification of new or existing background reviews. Nichols said he had interviewed five people for the position and felt that Bush would do a very good job coming in during the middle of the year. He said Bush will teach sixth grade at PHS;

• accepted the resignation of Trent Taylor as teacher/coach at Straughn High School, effective Dec. 19, 2014; and

• heard from financial reports that more than $337,000 in ad valorem taxes had been recorded for November, a number that was higher than last year Driver said.